polyethylene

American

[pol-ee-eth-uh-leen] / ˌpɒl iˈɛθ əˌlin /

noun

Chemistry.

a plastic polymer of ethylene used chiefly for containers, electrical insulation, and packaging.

polyethylene British

/ ˌpɒlɪˈɛθɪˌliːn /

noun

another name for polythene

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

polyethylene Scientific

/ pŏl′ē-ĕth′ə-lēn′ /

Any of various artificial resins consisting of many ethyl groups (CH ₂ CH ₂) joined end to end or in branched chains. Polyethylenes are easily molded and are resistant to other chemicals. They can be repeatedly softened and hardened by heating and cooling, and are used for many purposes, such as making containers, tubes, and packaging.

Etymology

Origin of polyethylene

First recorded in 1935–40; poly- + ethylene

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"In polyethylene and polypropylene production, for example, aromatic compounds help make the catalysts that control these industrial chemical processes more durable and more effective," explains David Scheschkewitz.

From Science Daily

The sector employs well over a million people and provides the ingredients for all the stuff of modern life, from polyethylene packaging to phenol for painkillers.

From The Wall Street Journal

Experts have also pointed out that the technique used in the research, which is called pyrolysis-GC-MS, can confuse fat with polyethylene, which is commonly used in plastic packaging.

From Barron's

Colored shampoo and detergent bottles, made from polyethylene, or #1 plastic, are getting recycled at a rate of just 5%.

From Los Angeles Times

But in April 2024, her surgeon used robotic assistance to bolster the joint with titanium alloys and polyethylene components.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023